Chapter 4

"Why can't you help me?" Mr. McKane pressed, "surely that's not the only reason."

"Yes it is the only reason, I don't want to harm my family," Aralyn said, bowing her head. The old man sighed and still didn't take that as an answer.

"I'll give you some time to think about it," he said, "tonight during supper you will tell me your decision. Now you stay in here. And don't think about going anywhere, you'll have to go through tons of feroucious dogs and big men. See you tonight." The door closed behind him, leaving Aralyn feeling alone and scared.

"Do you honestly think you'll get away with this?" Jesse blurted. Chris didn't answer as Jesse led him to the computers.

"Well one thing sure hasn't changed," Jesse continued, "you're still quiet." He smiled to himself when he heard the man grit his teeth.

Finally they entered the computer room. Jesse seated himself and waited for the opportune moment.

Come on man turn away, he thought frantically. He was starting to get worried his plan won't work. He had to think fast.

"Hey Chris man. No one's allowed to look at my password. Can you turn away for a second?" Jesse asked. Chris looked uncertain and turned away, gun pointed awkwardly at him.

Here we go. Taking a deep breath, Jesse concentrated on fasing. He hoped he could get out of the room using a close wall and get Adam out of there.

But he never counted on the pain he felt. Letting his breath out he took another, trying to put the pain to the side. This time he massed. Standing up, Jesse tapped Chris on the shoulder and when the man turned to him Jesse smacked him in the stomach, making Chris keel over and fall unconcious.

"That hurt," Jesse moaned when he turned back to normal. He sat down on a rolly chair and called to Adam.

"Hey Adam...can you come here and help me?" Jesse asked, trying to keep the pain out of his voice, "I think I may have pushed it to far." Adam rushed into the room and examined Jesse than Chris.

"You didn't do to much to him," he clarified, "a few broken rib bones, and he'll be sore in the morning. Now let's get you back to your own bed."

Adam helped Jesse up and they went to Jesse's room. Once Jesse was safe in bed, Adam went downstairs and called on the rest of Mutant X.

"Chris did what!? Is Jesse okay....are you okay!?" Shalimar was hysterical. Emma put a reassuring arm around her and Brennan grunted in frustration.

"I knew he was trouble. We should have had someone stay there with you. And Jesse massing and fassing, surely he knows better than that." Brennan was at wits end.

"Come on Bren, we're alright now. Jesse's resting and Chris is being held in the fighting pad. We'll be fine here," Adam said as calmly as he could. Brennan calemed down, but Emma knew that he was still mad. Then she caught something. It was Aralyn.

"Brennan I have a reading on Aralyn. She's not in trouble per say, but she is troubled," she said, "and confused."

"Okay where is she?" Brennan asked.

"She's at a big mansion about ten minutes away from here," was the answer.

"Did ya hear that Adam? We got a lock on Aralyn, we're on our way," Shalimar said. There was a sigh on the other end and a congradulations. The Mutant X team (minus Jesse), sped off to the mansion which belonged to Theodore McKane.

Aralyn was escorted to a large dining hall and seated at one end of the table. Mr. McKane was seated at the other end.

"So Miss Wood, have you come to a decision yet?" Mr. McKane questioned. Aralyn looked down at her plate.

"I have no wish to harm my family," she said simply, "I will not take any part in that." Mr. McKane sighed and sipped his soup. They ate in silence and that's when it happened.

Aralyn's body shook and before she knew it, Mr. McKane was looking at his chair. There was a huge burned hole. It wasn't from her own powers it was from her other elemental power, electricity, which was hidden in her with the others.

Then Aralyn got an ear-splitting headache and a psionic blast hit a nearby servant. He collapsed to the ground, clearly choking.

"What the hell is happening to me!?" she screamed. She clutched her head as she saw through completely different eyes. She could smell the cologne on Mr. McKane and could smell the dogs outside. She leapt onto the table and grasped the chandelier.

"Yes she's finally opening! It's finally happening!" Mr. McKane yelled. Aralyn swung down and had the sudden urge to have a banana.

"What's going on? Why am I acting like this?" she demanded. Mr. McKane stopped and looked at her sympathetically.

"You mean Adam has not told you. Why my dear you are the most powerful mutant alive!" Aralyn shook her head.

"No I can't be-what the-"

There was a big blast and Shalimar walked through the door, her eyes glowing.

"I smell a monkey feral," she growled. She spotted Aralyn and knew that scent was coming from her. The truth dawned on her.

"Adam she's becoming more powerful!" she called, truelly afraid. If she was as powerful as Adam had said she was, Shalimar didn't want that girl entering her mind. Dimly she was aware of Adam's voice telling her to bring Aralyn back to Sancutary ASAP.

Apparently Mr. McKane didn't want her to go back so soon. He waved a glove hand at a nearby servant and he brought forth a....

"Subdermal governor! Aralyn look out!" Emma warned. Shalimar raced forward, butfor once she was to late. There was a shriek of pain and Aralyn grasped the back of her neck.

"I honestly didn't want to use this hideous thing on such a beautiful girl, but what's gotta be done gotta be done as I always say," the old man said.

"You monster how dare you put that thing on an innocent girl," Brennan snarled. Mr. McKane looked around.

"Surely you aren't talking about me? You are are you well then what can I say." Shalimar leapt up in time to catch a bolt of electricty. But it hadn't come from Brennan. It came from Aralyn.

Tears were welled up in her eyes but she no comtrol over powers. She was told to or else she would immediately feel pain from the governor.

"I'm sorry Shal," she whispered.

Brennan felt he had no choice. Emma was trying to wake Shalimar up so all who was left was Brennan. He put his hands together and felt the electricity flow through his veins. Then he chucked the great ball of electricty at Aralyn. When he thought he had a direct hit, he was surprised to see that Aralyn was right beside him.

"Oh man you're a molecular too," he moaned, "this is too much. What else are you?" Aralyn looked away as if she didn't want to do this but Brennan didn't wait to find out what it was she was going to do. He slid under the table as Aralyn threw what looked like a psionic blast. It just narrowly missed him. Now he knew what kind of trouble they were truly in.

End of chapter 4